Overview and History

I've developed CD based textbook and simulator packages for the 68HCS12 and
68HC12 which are available via this site.

In 1999, after teaching a microncontroller course using the
Motorola 68HC11, I felt that students would be better served by a more
modern microcontroller, so I switched to the 68HC12 and more recently
the 68HCS12. However there was a problem: no textbook was available,
and while there was a free assembler, there was no reasonably priced
simulator. It's much easier to learn beginning programming with a
simulator than with a debugger on the target hardware!

So over the years I wrote both a textbook, HTML based, and a
simulator. I distribute them on CD to my students each term. The
original simulator for the 68HC12 I've always distributed for free
from my website, and I will continue to do so. But in 2004 I decided
to make the CD textbooks and the 68HCS12 simulator available to
students and individuals who want to learn these microcontrollers on
their own.

The textbooks are hyperlinked for cross references and to the
Freescale documentation, and will also launch the simulator for
example programs in the text. In addition the textbooks are fully
indexed. The 68HCS12 text can be printed, in whole or part, for
personal use, using the supplied PDF format file. Printed, softbound copies of
this text are also available.

Please note that running the simulator from within the text using a browser is becoming less possible and will not be possible with any browser in the near future. The issue is that the simulator in this case must run as a Java Applet, a technology that is being abandoned. However this does not prevent running the example programs from outside the browser using the simulator "stand alone".

CD Based Instruction Advantages

Many people are nervous about having a CD based text; however, there are
many advantages:

The learning process is enhanced when concepts can be tested immediately.
Computer access is needed to either run the simulator or access a development
board, so having the text on the computer is convenient. Example programs
can be run directly from Microsoft Internet Explorer on the
simulator.

Indexing and hyperlinks allow finding information faster than a printed
text. Search engines, now and in the future, such as from Google, Microsoft,
Apple, and others can find things virtually instantaneously.

Even if the book were printed, one would still need to refer to the Freescale
manuals, which are all PDF format files.

Errors in the text are corrected and additional material added without
waiting years for a new edition. The material is as fresh as possible when
you buy.

If a printed copy is necessary for personal use, it can be done, in part
or whole, without restriction.

Printed copies of the 68HCS12 textbook are available here, alone or in combination
with the CD.

The simulators are written in Java and have been tested under
Microsoft Windows 2000 through 10, Red Hat and Ubuntu Linux, and Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.11. The
textbook being in HTML and PDF is readable under any of these systems.
The included assembler is compiled for Windows but source code is
provided which can be compiled for other environments. The included
assembler IDE is for Windows only.